The New Zealand rugby league coach Stephen Kearney has spoken publicly for the first time on the Melbourne Storm's salary cap scandal.
Kearney, the Storm's assistant coach, has assured the New Zealand Rugby League he was unaware of the $2 million scam.
While the Storm coach Craig Bellamy says the club still considers itself legitimate NRL champions of 2007 and 2009 despite being stripped of the titles, Kearney who played over 100 games for the club hasn't been as forthright.
He says there doesn't seem to be a silver lining and was reluctant to speculate on the club's future.
Kearney says planning for the Kiwis Test against Australia next month has been a welcome diversion.
